Tired of paying rent, German woman lives on train

Cologne (Germany): When others get off the train to go home, Leonie Muller, a German college student, stays behind. That is because she is already at home: The train is her apartment, and she says she likes it that way.

Muller gave up her apartment in spring. "It all started with a dispute I had with my landlord," Muller told the media via e-mail. "I instantly decided I didn't want to live there anymore and then I realised: Actually, I didn't want to live anywhere anymore."

She bought a subscription that allows her to board every train in the country for free. Now, Muller washes her hair in the train bathroom and writes her college papers while traveling at a speed of up to 190 mph.

She says that she enjoys the liberty she has experienced since she gave up her apartment. "I really feel at home on trains, and can visit so many more friends and cities. It's like being on vacation all the time," Muller said.

"I read, I write, I look out of the window and I meet nice people all the time. There's always something to do on trains," Muller told in an interview. Since risking the move, Muller's life fits into a small backpack in which she carries clothes, her tablet computer, college documents and a sanitary bag.

Financially, she benefits from living on a train: The flat-rate ticket costs her about USD 380, whereas she had to pay about USD 450 for her previous apartment. Living cheaper, however, is not the only goal she has in mind.

"I want to inspire people to question their habits and the things they consider to be normal," Muller told. "There are always more opportunities than one thinks there are. The next adventure is waiting just around the corner - provided that you want to find it," she added.

Muller frequently travels late at night, although she tries to sleep at the apartments of relatives or friends. Often, she is accommodated by her boyfriend, her mother or grandmother. "Normally, we would have to have a long-distance relationship, but living on a train enables me to see him all the time," Muller told.

She is documenting the unusual experiment on a blog. Her final undergraduate paper will be based on her experiences as a modern train-nomad.